‘NLC not party to calls for Saraki’s resignation’

The Nigeria Labour Congress said on Monday it was not party to calls for the resignation of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

The body also called for an immediate investigation into death of Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

NLC in a statement signed by its president, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said it has never made any comment on the trial of the Senate President by the Code of Conduct Tribunal and has not made any call for his resignation.

The statement reads “The attention of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has been drawn to the report on The Punch Newspaper of Sunday, September 27, 2015 captioned: “Resign now, labour unions tell Saraki.”

“The report stated that “Nigerian workers, under the umbrellas of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, have asked the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, to vacate his office pending the determination of his case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.”

“We wish to state categorically clear that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) did not issue any statement to that effect. As a matter of fact, Congress has never made such a demand and therefore dissociates itself from the statement. We therefore urge the general public and our members in particular to please take note.

“The recent mass rally by NLC/TUC and civil society allies in Abuja was to support the anti-corruption crusade of the current administration as well as enthronement of good governance in the country. While Congress will continue to support the anti-graft war, it will however not support the removal of any public office holder without recourse to due process.

“Labour values security of tenure unless there is a proven case of guilt which clearly is not yet the case with particular reference to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, whose controversial matter of alleged false declaration of assets is still in court. Congress as a democratic organization presumes all Nigerians, workers inclusive are innocent until they are proved guilty by the courts of law of the land.”